Lib Dems Gain 153 Councillors in England and Seats in Scotland, Sir Ed Davey Positions Party as Alternative to Extremes

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party offers an alternative to the "extremes" of Reform UK and the Greens, as he praised gains across England and Scotland.

The Lib Dems gained 153 councillors in England, winning control of Stockport and Portsmouth councils, and six seats in the Scottish Parliament.

However, the party's gains trailed those of Reform UK and the Green Party of England and Wales. The Lib Dems mainly benefited from a drop in support for Labour and the Conservatives.

In Hull, a Reform UK surge cost the Lib Dems control of the council. Nigel Farage's party also blocked their chances of winning in Tory-run Hampshire.

Speaking in Edinburgh on Saturday, Sir Ed said: "There's no doubt that British politics is in flux, the old two parties have failed, people looking for change."

"I think the option for British people is the change of the populist parties on the extremes of left and right - Reform and the Greens - or change that is true to British values from the Liberal Democrats."

"Many people voted for that type of change and I'm going to champion that."

When asked if his party was losing momentum, Sir Ed noted it was the eighth straight year of net gains for the Lib Dems in English council elections. The party also posted its best result in Scotland in nearly 20 years.

He added: "Clearly, the populist parties on the extremes of left and right have also done well. But I think the more that they are exposed and the more people see their policies, they will realise they are either pipe dreams or the politics of division."

In Stockport and Portsmouth, where the Liberal Democrats were already the largest party, Labour losses handed them council control despite Reform UK challenges.

The Lib Dems strengthened their hold on Sutton and Richmond-upon-Thames in south-west London, taking every seat on those councils.

In south-east England, the party capitalized on weak Conservative support to win the new East and West Surrey councils.

Still, despite nine extra seats on Hampshire Council, larger Reform UK gains left no party in overall control.